The inter-union maintains its strike call starting December 11: an ultimatum for the government

The railway unions have decided to maintain their strike call, which will begin on December 11 at 7:00 PM. CGT-Cheminots, Unsa-Ferroviaire, Sud-Rail, and CFDT-Cheminots demand a moratorium on the dismantling of Fret SNCF, France’s leading freight rail operator, and protest the terms of opening regional train lines to competition.

The unions urge the government to engage in immediate tripartite negotiations to avoid a large-scale mobilization, following a first day of strike that saw only partial participation.

An urgent demand for rail freight and the retraining of railway workers

In a joint statement, the unions emphasize that the demand for a moratorium on the dismantling of Fret SNCF remains as crucial as ever. This request has been rejected by the government so far. As Fret SNCF, a key player in French freight transport, is set to be split into two subsidiaries on January 1, 2025, the unions argue that this reform endangers the future of this sector, vital for the decarbonization of transport.

The unions criticize the decision to reduce the activity of Fret SNCF in favor of new entities, arguing that the liquidation of this public service is not only reckless but also irresponsible.

Insufficient retraining of railway workers

SNCF has promised to retrain 500 railway workers out of the 5,000 affected by the restructuring, but the unions believe this retraining is insufficient. They hope to secure further guarantees from European institutions, particularly from Teresa Ribera, the European Commissioner for Ecological Transition and Competition.

Concerns over regional market reforms

The unions also express concerns about the transfer of 1,200 railway workers into group subsidiaries starting in December, following the opening of regional train services to competition. They accuse Jean-Pierre Farandou, SNCF’s president, of making “an ideological choice” to prioritize the company’s margins over railway workers’ working conditions. A particularly sensitive issue is the overhaul of the rules regarding work time organization.

Towards an indefinite strike if demands are ignored

The unions also demand a “multi-year programming law” to guarantee the funding for the maintenance of the rail network and the development of both freight and passenger transport. Although the first day of mobilization was followed by only a quarter of railway workers, the unions are now threatening to extend the strike indefinitely if their demands are not addressed.

The ultimatum is clear: if the government does not find a solution to the crisis quickly, the strike could intensify and last beyond December 11.